Hall & Oates cement their reputation as one of the greatest duo in rock history with a Strathmore concert of the music that thrilled a generation for its originality, emotion and humanity.
As pioneers of rock & soul, Daryl Hall and John Oates wrote dozens of hit songs, eight of them becoming No. 1 singles. With more than 60 million albums in circulation, they have influenced a generation of artists and earned a place in the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
“The Strathmore audience can expect a mix of stuff that represents our whole cover,” Oates says. “We’ll play songs people expect to hear, ones that Daryl and I especially like, and of course we’ll take requests from the floor.”
Beginning with their accidental meeting in a freight elevator while escaping a riot in Adelphi Ballroom during the Battle of the Bands, the Philadelphia natives hit it off musically and philosophically. They were Temple University students at the time, Hall majoring in music and Oates in journalism.
“Writing came easy to me and I thought it would be a good addition to my music background,” Oates says. “I’d been performing around the area since childhood. Nobody else in my family was particularly musical, but by the time I was four or five they knew I had a natural talent. I’d been nurturedby all the sounds on local radio, the urban culture of Philadelphia and events [such as] the Philadelphia Folk Festival. My parents were very supportive and helped buy my equipment.”
Philadelphia led the nation in musical innovation when Hall & Oates joined forces. American Bandstand created television idols overnight and soul music coming out of South Philadelphia was aggressively marketed by local producers Gamble and Huff. Hall & Oates soon signed on with Atlantic Records, later moving to RCA.
“Back in those days, you had to be an accomplished musician on some level to get a record contract,” Oates says. “There was no sequence track to fall back on. You had to be good to impress. We moved to New York because we realized there was a finite amount of music coming out of Philadelphia. Gamble & Huff produced what they wanted; Daryl and I had our own vision.
“Our songwriting put us on the map. We kept writing good songs and the public kept listening, buying and putting them on the Billboard charts. Many album cuts, like ‘She’s Gone,’ have personal meaning and represent a special moment or event in our lives.”
Hall & Oates continue stirring up memories for their fans. After a celebratory Fourth of July concert in their hometown, this tour takes them cross-country, culminating in the Hollywood Bowl.
“We’ve always toured because live performances are part and parcel of our tradition,” Oates says. “Being a touring musician is what you did. Spending all your time in a recording studio is an incomplete way of connecting with the public.
“At Strathmore, and wherever we go, we want the audience to remember the breadth and scope of our songs and the elevated quality of material we’ve produced for 30 years, not because we wanted to make money, but to enjoy what we do every minute of the day.”
IF YOU GO:
Daryl Hall & John Oates in concert, tonight at8 p.m.
» Venue: Music Center at Strathmore, 5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda.
» Tickets: $48 to $99 at (301) 581-5100 or strathmore.org
